The Board

Ms Sheriden Morris, Chair

Sheriden is currently the Managing Director and Company Secretary of the Cairns-based non-profit Reef and Rainforest Research Centre (RRRC) and Deputy Chair of Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef.

Sheriden has extensive experience in environmental research and monitoring management, aquaculture development, agricultural science and agronomy in the sugar cane and banana industries of Far North Queensland and served as a Director of Wetland Care Australia and has previously worked with CSIRO and GBRMPA.

As an extensive contributor to land and sea management policy, Sheriden has also spearheaded the development and implementation of an innovative aid development programme on Australia’s northern borderlands with Papua New Guinea.

Board term: 2017-2022

Mr Don McDonald AM OBE, Deputy Chair

Don is the Chair of MHD Pty Ltd—a family owned beef cattle operation in Cloncurry in north-west Queensland. Don has previously held Board positions with the Australian Agricultural Company Ltd, Queensland Industry Development Corporation, Kidson Gold Mines Ltd, CSIRO, ATEC Rail Group and the Queensland Royal Flying Doctors.

Don is recognised nationally for his commitment to regional issues. In 1988 he was awarded an OBE for his services to the community, in 2001 Don was awarded a Centenary Medal, and then in 2006 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia Award.

Board term: 2019-2022

Cr John Wharton AM

Councillor John Wharton AM is Mayor of the Richmond Shire Council. He received a Member of the Order of Australia Award and Centenary Medal for his service to the community of North-West Queensland and local government. He is the Director of his own company, Wharton & Co Pty Ltd and is a registered Real Estate Agent.

John is recognised nationally for his commitment to community service through local government, regional development, natural resource management and primary industry organisations. In 2007 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia Award for his service to the community of north-west Queensland. He also received the Centenary Medal for distinguished service to local government.

Board term: 2017- 2021

Cr Peter Long

BE (Hons), BA, BSc(EnvSc) CPEng

Peter is Mayor of the City of Karratha. A professional engineer and environmental scientist, Peter has instigated and managed a range of businesses in the environmental and engineering fields and has served on several Boards including the:

West Pilbara Institute

St Luke’s Collage (Chair)

Biosequest Australia, and

Worley Astron (Chair).

Board term: 2017-2022

Ms Tracey Hayes

GCRngldMan, GAICD, EMBA

Tracey is a senior leader in business and industry with considerable experience as a Chief Executive Officer, Board Chair, Company Director and Board Member. A strong business professional with substantial Asian engagement experience, skilled in crisis management, public affairs, negotiation, corporate social responsibility and strategic development.

In addition to her role as a Director of the CRCNA Board , Tracey is Chair of the Darwin Waterfront Corporation, a member of the Order of Australia Honours Council, on the board of the Australia Indonesia Institute, and the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency.

A long- term Territorian, pastoralist, pilot, Justice of the Peace and small business owner, Tracey was the first female Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association and was tasked with leading the billion-dollar NT pastoral industry.

Tracey has a Global Executive Master of Business from the University of Sydney, studied Business Management and Rangeland Management with The University of Queensland and has continued her Agribusiness studies with the Harvard Business School short course program.

Board term: 2017 -2020

Mr John Bearne

AdvDipEng, FAICD, Registered Builder QLD

John has substantial experience as Chair and Director of numerous commercial and not-for-profit organisations including Townsville Hospital Health Service (Chair), Tropical Health Academic Research Centre (Chair), the Jezzine Barracks Community Trust (Director), the Australian Technical College of North Queensland (Director) and Yumba Meta (Director).

He is a Member of the Townsville Health Research Ethics Committee, was formerly the President of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce and is a Life Member of Townsville Enterprise Ltd.

Board term: 2019 -2022

Ronald (Ricky) Archer

Ricky Archer is a Djungan man from the Western Tablelands region of North Queensland.

Ricky has a strong network of on-ground land and sea managers across Northern Australia from which to draw from and has demonstrated an ability to connect on-ground work of Indigenous organisations with regional, state and commonwealth priorities.

He has been actively involved and engaged on the Indigenous Advisory Committee since 2014. The Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) is an expert group who provide advice to the Minister for the Environment on the operation of the EPBC Act, taking into account the significance of Indigenous peoples' knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

He was also a member of the National Landcare Advisory Committee which provided further connections to the work of the Indigenous Advisory Committee.